Intern for the Festival!

Are you a hard-working, people-person looking for some real-world work experience? We need your help to throw Louisville’s biggest party!

We’re looking for community-minded college students to support the Kentucky Derby Festival’s mission to bring this month-long celebration to our city. With the help of a dedicated team of interns, we’ll organize and promote more than 70 events with nearly 4,000 volunteers, culminating in 1.5 million attendees and generating more than $127.9 million annually for the local economy.

We ask that Interns are currently enrolled at a college or university, or a recent graduate and be available 15-20 hours per week, as well as additional availability on some nights & weekends during event season in the Spring.

This is an unpaid position, but we do offer credit for school and exposure to leaders of some of the top businesses here in town.

Find your front row seat to the business of festival fundraising at an organization with a city-wide economic impact of over $127.9 million annually! Learn Sponsorship Sales 101 with our talented team of sales professionals guiding you through the real-world application of corporate partnerships, and a unique opportunity for professional networking with some of Louisville’s business leaders.

The Sponsorship Sales team is looking for energetic, well-organized and self-motivated interns that can handle their own whether in a board room or on board the Belle of Louisville. You’ll do well as a Derby Festival Sales Intern if your communication skills are at “Party Host” level, and you are proactive in getting work and assignments done with minimal supervision.

Get the ultimate backstage pass to the production of one of the largest city-wide Festivals in the country, including one of the nation’s largest fireworks shows!

The Event team is looking for interns who are energized by interacting with people and working on group projects, enjoy work that requires frequent shifts in direction (adaptable/flexible) and have a “no job too small!” mentality. You’ll fit in well if you can see a need and jump in to help before being asked.

Responsibilities:

Assisting with the implementation and execution of Derby Festival produced events such as Thunder Over Louisville, Humana miniMarathon/Marathon, Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, BB&T Balloon Glimmer and more!

On-site production & logistics support, including assisting with load-in and load-out of events

Attend planning meetings with the Event Team

Support on promotion activities for events, and other special projects

Collecting event data and helping with managing, analyzing and finding insights (such as analyzing patron’s insights after the event)

Be on the front lines of Festival marketing and communications and work with our team to run a newsroom, ad agency & influencer school all rolled into one!

The Marketing & Communications team is searching for extremely detail-oriented interns who know how to collaborate with a group to get the job done and aren’t afraid of taking on a task they’ve never done before. You’ll do well with our team if you’re a team-player who enjoys work that changes from day to day, and doesn’t need a great deal of direction or oversight to complete a task.

Please think about which of the below focus areas you might be most interested in when you apply. While many of the Marketing and Communications tasks will overlap, we will try to assign work based on interest, background and capability.

PR & Editorial

Responsibilities:

Editing and updating Press Releases as needed

Be the go-to for quick writing projects like digital articles, website content, etc.

Come up with ideas and write stories for E-News and E-blasts (email newsletters)

Help with and manage communication for the Radio Broadcast event, Morning Line

Lend a hand with copy and content creation for social media channels, including graphics, photography, live-posting during events, etc.

Broadcast & Videography

Responsibilities:

Film video shorts for social media, on both iPhone & Nikon camera

Star in, host and/or interview for social or digital video

Assist in editing social or digital video

Manage and broadcast live from certain social channels like Snapchat

Lend a hand with copy and content creation for all social media channels, including graphics, photography, live-posting during events, etc.

* REQUIRED FOR BROADCAST/VIDEO FOCUS: Some experience in filming and editing video using iMovie, Adobe Premier or their own editing software.

Social Media & Digital Content

Responsibilities:

Responsible for website updates, and making sure all website information is correct during high traffic times for the Festival (you’ll learn the WordPress backend)

Responsible for helping populate the content for the Kentucky Derby Festival App

Helping with social media responses and customer service, as well as maintaining the Facebook Chat Bot during high-traffic times

Come up with ideas and write stories for E-News and E-blasts (email newsletters)

Star in, host and/or interview for social or digital video

Lend a hand with copy and content creation for all social media channels, including graphics, photography, live-posting during events, etc.

Advertising & Event Promotion

Responsibilities:

Proofing, reviewing and filing ad projects

Come up with ideas and write stories for E-News and E-blasts (email newsletters)

Ready to help move, manage and analyze over $250,000 worth of Festival swag? Want to learn the logistics and organization it takes to run a $1 million program? Try the Derby Festival Merchandising role on for size!

The Merchandising team is looking for an intern with a great work ethic, enjoy completing projects with minimal supervision, and a passion for building and growing a brand identity through apparel and merchandising. You’ll be in the right place if you’re looking for an opportunity to expand your skills in market research and competitive analysis, merchandising and product strategy, brand sales techniques, and being able to take ownership of projects almost from start to finish.

Applicants will need to have a high availability during event season including some weekends and evenings, especially during the month of April

Must have a professional manner on the phone, as you will be in contact with important business partners.

Some familiarity with Microsoft Excel is preferred

May be occasionally asked to assist in tasks that require maneuvering 25-50 pounds

Interning for the Kentucky Derby Festival is an invaluable experience. Interns have the opportunity to be part of the community’s signature festival and one of the world’s leading celebrations. In the past, internships at the Derby Festival have led to successful careers.

This is an unpaid position, but we do offer credit for school and exposure to leaders of some of the top businesses here in town.